Will Muschamp’s exit press conference at Florida might have been the nicest, most civil firing press conference ever executed by any college ever.
Muschamp, athletic director Jeremy Foley and school president Bernie Machen all met with the media on Monday to discuss Muschamp’s firing and the program moving forward.
Muschamp will coach the Gators’ final two games before stepping aside, a move that is not unprecedented, but the way Muschamp was being ushered out was almost surreal.
In his opening statement, Machen said he “treasured, literally treasured” Muschamp and cited all of the wonderful things he’s done with the program (except win, of course).
As he turned the press conference over to Foley, he added one more glowing remark:
“In the end, can you say that someone who has to leave has made a positive contribution, and the answer for that is definitely yes, for Will Muschamp,” Machen said. “In fact, I would love for my son or my grandson to have the opportunity to be coached by Will Muschamp.”
(Just not at Florida)
Foley was similarly positive saying he’ll miss working with Muschamp and that he’s well respected in the University of Florida family.
“He is as fine of a person as you could ever meet and a friend to all of us. Will Muschamp is a good, good person.That is why this is so tough for everybody,” Foley said.
This isn’t normal.
When a coach is fired, he doesn’t sit in press conferences with the people who just fired him even if he’s staying on to finish the season, and he certainly doesn’t sit there while the people who just fired him treat him like they’ve lost a family member.
Foley even noted that he was convinced Muschamp would win championships in the future.
(Just not at Florida)
“He's won a lot of championships in his career; he will win more, I promise you that,” Foley said. “It just was not been working here as we all envisioned and certainly not as he envisioned four years ago when he came aboard. When things are not working as envisioned, you've got to make a difficult decision despite the tremendous effort he put in.”
So it’s clear Muschamp wasn’t fired because he didn’t work hard or because he was unlikeable, he was fired because he didn’t win, and in big-time college athletics that’s really all that matters.
Muschamp was 27-20 (with two games remaining) in four seasons with Florida. He took the Gators to two bowl games, including the Sugar Bowl in 2012. And the Gators likely will play in a bowl game this season as they are one game away from bowl eligibility with games against Eastern Kentucky and Florida State remaining.
But just playing in a bowl game isn’t enough for Florida, which has won seven SEC titles since the conference introduced a championship game in 1992, and has won three national championships, including titles following the 2006 and 2008 seasons.
“I stand by my statement yesterday, that we didn't win enough football games, that's the bottom line. You’ve got to win games,” Muschamp said. “We didn't get that done. Very disappointed and frustrated that did not happen. Certainly had our opportunities, especially this year, keeping a healthy roster and having the opportunity to win football games, and we didn't get it done.”
While the Gators might not have won during Muschamp’s tenure, their defense was fantastic, which will probably set Muschamp up for a high-profile defensive coordinator position somewhere for 2015. Muschamp said he hasn’t yet been contacted, but there are several schools, including some in his own conference, that are in need of his defensive expertise.
As for Florida, Foley said it would start a nationwide search Monday afternoon, but that he would not disrupt any coach in season. Already, coaches across the country have been asked about the Florida job and all have denied interest (par for the course). Still, this is will be one of the most high-profile jobs open this offseason and several coaches will be trying to get the inside track, even if it’s in a clandestine manner.
For more Florida news, visit InsideTheGators.com.
- - - - - - -
Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday
And don’t forget to keep up with all of Graham’s thoughts, witty comments and college football discussions on Facebook
